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It'sÌýexpected today thatÌýPolice Commissioner Andrew CosterÌýis going to announce a revision of the police pursuit policy and that aÌý“fleeing driver framework would be introduced.

TheÌýNew Zealand Herald is reporting that this framework is going to give the police,Ìýfinally, the discretion thatÌýeveryone'sÌýbeen calling out for.ÌýSoÌýthey'reÌýgoing to give them the discretionÌýwhether or notÌýtoÌýchase, based on an assessment of the crime that the driver has committed,Ìýand the risk they pose to the public.ÌýÌý

What difference when it comes toÌýcrimeÌýis this reallyÌýgoingÌýto make?

Last week, there was an interview with HeatherÌýDu Plessis Allan andÌýPolice Commissioner Andrew Coster,Ìýwhere,ÌýI thoughtÌýhe made a telling comment.ÌýOne comment he made was thatÌýbasically the police can only catch them. But after that theyÌýdon'tÌýhave any more to do with the consequence that follows to the offenders,Ìýbecause he saidÌýwell, you know weÌýdon'tÌýweÌýdon'tÌýhave any responsibility for what happens once they hit the justice system. Ìý

Which I thought was a pretty candid moment for theÌýPolice Commissioner.ÌýIn other words, wellÌýwe can catch him, but beyond that,Ìýdon'tÌýlook at me.Ìý

It seems to me that theÌýPolice Commissioner might even himself, in his private moments, quietly have thrownÌýhis hands up in the air at the lack of consequence which people face onceÌýthey'veÌýbeen caught,Ìýafter the police haveÌýactually doneÌýtheirÌýjob.ÌýÌý

AndÌýmaybe thisÌýisÌýevidentÌýin the news about those pitch invaders, 12 people arrested running onto the field during the Warriors match. I mean, why do they do it? Well, one reason isÌýbecause theyÌýhaveÌýno fear of the consequences.ÌýÌý

Look, I thinkÌýit'sÌýirresistible that we need to give the police more choice when it comes to pursuing offenders. ButÌýhere'sÌýthe question,Ìýwill it really make a difference?

Because when it comes to crime and punishment,Ìýit seems thereÌýare still no consequences that people are afraid of.ÌýÌýWhen it comes to consequencesÌýat the moment,ÌýI'dÌýsay pardonÌýmyÌýFrench there’s * all.Ìý